MysticalDreamer: cheese man! we're out of spam!! help us all!!!
yes.. it was indeed an evil cliffhanger, was it not? *dodges the random objects thrown at her for the evil cliffhanger* forgive me, for I have updated now! *all cheer*
disclaimer: i own digimon. i don't own faye. oh wait.. i got that mixed up a bit...
chapter fourteen: a returning nightmare
Rika stared at the sillouette standing in the doorway. Her mother gagged and seated on the floor in the living room. Her grandmother who knows where. She could only think of one thing to say.
"Sorry bout this mom." she whispered. Then she turned and glared unseen daggers at him. "Bastard!!!" she screamed at him.
"Rika! Leave!" shouted Rumiko.
"Oh, Rika." said Justin. He main the 'tsk tsk' sound, as if he was disapointed. "Isn't it passed your curfew?"
"Get the hell out!!" screamed Rika, standing up in front of her mother.
"You aren't exactly in a position to tell me what to do, young lady." came his reply. Rika saw him take a step closer.
"Stop!!" she screamed at him. "Get AWAY!"
"I think Rika needs to be disiplined." said Justin.
Rika looked around. It was dark, as the lights were out, but the moon provided some light. She saw the broom laying on the floor. She ran over to it and grabbed it.
"RIKA!" shouted Rumiko.
Rika glared and ran at her father, swinging the broom wildly. She whacked it at his head furiously and he cursed out.
Rika ran back towards her mom and attempted to untie her hands.
"Rika!" she said. "Get out! Don't worry about me! LEAVE!"
"There is no way in hell I'm leaving you here with this psychopath." said Rika. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the knot.
Justin had taken another step foward and was taunting them. "My girls.."
Rika glanced up and saw him chuck the broom out the door. She looked back down at the knot and panicked. It wasn't working.
She looked around the room as Justin cracked his neck. She spotted a pair of scissors on the nearby table and snatched them. She sliced through the ropes as fast as she could and whirled around to face her dad.
"Why are you fricking stalking us?!?!" she shouted at him, pulling her mom to her feet. Rumiko clutched her daughter's arm.
"Stalking?" he asked, walking towards them. "I have no idea what you mean."
Rika looked around the room. The phone! She spotted it near by. If she could press any button, someone would here it and call for help.
"Don't even try to use the phone." said Justin. He was getting closer to them and they backed into the wall.
When he got enough to touch them, Rika spit into his face.
"Wench!!" he screamed. Then he slapped her across the face.
Rika turned and stared at him straight in the eye. "Leave now." she said.
"I told you." he said, grabbing her sleave and lifting her up a little bit. "Bad girls need to be punished."
She glared at him.
"Stop it!" screamed Rumiko. She ran over and started pounding him on the shoulders. "Leave her alone! Don't touch her!" she cried.
"Get lost. I'm not ready for you yet." he said and shoved her. She flew back into the couch. He looked back at Rika.
She glared at him and bit down on his arm.
"You bitch!" he shouted. He let go of her shirt and pushed her into the wall. Her eyes were full of fury. She pulled off her winter coat. It would be easier to move around with out it.
She charged foward and rammed into him.
"Rika!" shotued Rumiko.
Justin was surprised, but he was strong. He grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her in the air. She kicked her feet madly.
"Put me down!" she screamed. She hoped all these screams would attract someone to come and help. She swung her head around, trying to bite his hand.
"Stop Rika." he said in a low and ordering voice.
"Then let me go." she said, equally as demanding, as she snapped at his fingers.
He dropped her and she took off towards her mother. But he grabbed the back of her shirt. He had a firm grip and he wasn't letting go. She pushed foward as hard as she could.
"I won't let go, Rika." he said.
Rika grabbed her collar and tore it, causing it to rip. The shirt teared and she was able to free herself from his grasp. Layers do come in handy. (a/n: she is now wearing two shirts. one long sleaved, one tshirt under it. the tshirt on top was ripped. ^_-)
She dashed over to her mom and pulled her to her feet. She glanced back at her dad, who was charging at them.
She pulled her mother out of the way and he flew into the couch. Grabbing her mom's hand, Rika dashed towards the door. She stopped suddenly and whirled around.
Justin had grabbed her mother by the wrist and was not letting go.
"Rika! Let me go and get outta here!" shouted Rumiko.
"No way!" said Rika, grabbing her wrist with both hands. "There is no way I'm leaving you alone with this crazy jackass!" she shouted. She gave a final hard tug, and pulled Rumiko hard. They flew out the door and onto the deck.
Rika jumped and pulled her mom to her feet and they ran towards, well, they just ran. Justin's feet were pounding behind them.
Then Rumiko fell and knocked over Rika. They tumbled to the ground and Justin went over and stood in front of them.
"Tripping always works." her grinned.
Rika glared and went to stand up. Justin grabbed her hair by the ponytail and pulled her up. She grabbed her head and tried to pry his hands off her hair.
"Let GO!" she shouted.
Her hair was being pulled out of the ponytail, when his death grip vanished and her hair felt freedom. Her dad screamed. She looked down and figured out that her mother had kicked him in the shins.
Rika reached down and pulled Rumiko to her feet and shoved Justin so he lossed his balance and almost fell.
"Where's grandma?" asked Rika.
"I don't know!" said Rumiko. "I came home and couldn't find her! Then I was gagged by him." she explained.
"She's gotta be here." said Rika. "We have to find her. Now." she said. She turned and headed for the spare bedrooms.
They flung open each door and flipped on every light switch.
"Here Rika!" shouted Rumiko.
Rika dashed over and saw her grandmother bound and gagged on the bed. Rumiko was already over there, untying her. Rika slammed the door shut and pushed up a chair against it, making sure it would take a little bit more to open it.
"Grandma!" said Rika. She dashed over to her and began to untie the rope. Obviously not a good knot untier, she ran to the desk in the room and looked for scissors.
There was a pound on the door. "Open up, girls."
Rika ran over and cut through the rope on her grandma's hands. Then cut through the rope around her feet. Rumiko helped her mom sit up and pulled her off the bed.
"I heard the door open and then someone was pulling me out of the kitchen!" said Mrs. Makino. "I couldn't do anything! Then I was knocked out and I found myself here!"
"Its ok, mom." said Rumiko.
"We need to get out of here." said Rika, listening to the pounding on the door. She scrambled around the room, looking for something that could help.
"What about the blanket?" asked Rumiko, holding up the one on the bed. "We could open the door and throw it over him."
"Yes!" said Rika. She pulled it off the bed. "Mom. Open the door and me and grandma will throw it on him. Then we run somewhere." she said.
"Got it." said Rumiko. She went over towards the door.
"Open up. Now."
Rumiko looked over at them. "Ready?" she asked. They nodded. Rumiko pulled the door open and Justin came flying in. Rika and Mrs. Makino threw the blanket over his head and ran out. Rumiko slammed the door and they ran.
The door flew open and Justin was in pursuit. Rika heard a scream and turned to see her mom in the clutches of him.
She whirled around and charged at him. He had a firm grip on Rumiko's arm and he wasn't letting go.
"Let her go, you bastard!" screamed Rika, pounding on his shoulders.
Justin let go of her and grabbed Rika's arm just as tightly. Then he slapped her across the face again. Rika looked up and glared at him.
"You got something to say?" he asked. "Like apologizing for leaving me, all those years ago?" he grinned menacingly.
"Go to hell." came Rika's reply.
"I don't like you attitude missy." he said.
Meanwhile, Rumiko had run over and and slapped him across the face. "Leave her alone!" she screamed.
Justin turned slowly and faced the mother of his child. "I don't like your attitude too much either, bitch." he said. With his free hand, he slapped her than pushed her into the wall.
"Mom!" shouted Rika.
"Don't speak." said Justin, still with a death grip on her arm. He grabbed her other arm now too. "Look at me." he said.
Rika turned her head.
"Look at me!!" he shouted, letting go with one hand and slapping her yet again. He grabbed her face and pulled it so she was facing him.
Rika closed her eyes. She would not let this monster win.
"Open. Your. Eyes."
"Stop!" screamed Mrs. Makino. She came out of the kitchen, holding up a giant metal spoon. "Let her go now, or I'll hit you!"
Justin seemed amused. "Empty threat." he said and turned back towards Rika.
When he turned back to her she spit at him again. He loosend his grip and cursed. Rika pulled away and ran over to her mother. She helped her stand.
"You ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine!" said Rumiko. "Lets just go!" she said.
The three took off again but a little too late. Rika heard a squeal. She turned around.
"Grandma!" she shouted.
Justin pulled out a gun and was now pointing it towards Mrs. Makino's head. She looked terrified, and Justin was looking evil.
"Now. Stay there. Don't move." he said.
Rumiko and Rika stood in shock, not knowing what to do. Rika's mind raced. There had to be something she could do!
"I would greatly appriciate it if you girls of mine would now apologize to me for leaving me all those years ago." said Justin.
Rumiko bit her lip. Rika scowled. "Why would we apologize?" she said. "You gave us no fricken choice! Who wouldn't leave!" Rika shouted.
Justin narrowed his eyes and moved the gun closer to Mrs. Makino's head. She was freaking out and Justin was looking psychopathic.
"I.. I-" started Rumiko.
"Don't apologize to this bastard." said Rika, interupting her mother. "He doesn't deserve it." she said, glaring at him.
"Oh Rika." said Justin. He made the tsk tsk sound again. "I guess you want your precious grandmother to leave this world?"
"No." said Rika. "I wish you would leave this world."
Justin glared at her. "You're becoming little miss attitude Rika." he said. He lost some attention on Mrs. Makino, and it went towards Rika.
Then it clicked! If she could get all her father's attention on her, her mother could get her grandma outta there!
"What would you care?" asked Rika.
Rumiko was looking at her daughter with confusion. She looked between Justin, Rika and Mrs. Makino and then it clicked.
Justin shook his head. "Little girls shouldn't mouth off to their fathers."
"Two things wrong with that statement." said Rika. "One: I'm not a little girl." she said. She glared at him again. "Two: You are not my father. You are a monster. I have no father."
Justin was seething now. "Why you little-"
"Ah ah ah." grinned Rika. "If I can't bad mouth, then why should you be able to?"
Justin lost it and leaped at her, letting Mrs. Makino go free. Rumiko dashed over and hugged her mother, but then pushed her away so she wouldn't get caught in the middle again.
Justin pushed Rika up against the wall and punched her in the face. She responded by spitting in his eye. He cursed out loud and pushed her roughly.
She fell to the ground, and looked up. Her mother had gotten her grandma out of the way and was now searching for something to help. If Rika could keep Justin's attention on her, Rumiko could find something. Yeah. It would work.
Rika pulled herself to her feet and wiped the dirt off her face. She grinned. "I'm not so small anymore." she said. "And I've gotten into my fair share of fights. I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be." said Justin as he walked over to her. He pushed her to the ground again and before she could leap to her feet, he kicked her in the side. "Scared now?"
Rika sat up and jumped to her feet. "You wish." she said.
Justin scowled and grabbed her shirt collar. "Apologize."
She made now reply. She merely sent him death glares.
"Apologize!!!" he shouted.
"Never." she said.
Justin gave a little swing and sent Rika flying into the wall. He ran over and slapped her again. "Bitch. You disgust me."
"Yeah, well you disgust me too." replied Rika.
Then Rumiko came back and smacked him over the head with a glass. It shattered over his head and he whirled around.
"Back?" he asked, grabbing her wrists.
"Let go!" shouted Rika.
"Stay outta this." said Justin.
"Like hell I will!" shouted Rika, kicking him in the crotch.
He let go of Rumiko and screamed out. "BITCH!" he shouted, falling to his knees in pain. Rumiko grabbed Rika's hand and they ran away again.
"Where's grandma?" asked Rika.
"She's gone." said Rumiko. "I sent her to get help."
"Why didn't you go with her?" asked Rika.
"Like you said before," grinned Rumiko. "There's no way in hell I'm leaving you with this pyschopath." she said.
Rika grinned.
"But look at you!" said Rumiko. "You're all bruised!"
Rika patted her cheek. "I'm all right." she said. "Lets just get outta here."
Rumiko nodded.
"Get Back Here!!!" they heard Justin shout.
The two jumped over the side of the porch and landed on the ground. They dashed for the gate. Justin was gaining.
"Come on, mom!" shouted Rika, grabbing her mother's wrist and pulling here. "We're too close! We gotta MOVE." she said.
"I'm not an athlete, Rika!" replied Rumiko.
Rika stopped suddenly and flew back into her mother. She turned and saw Justin with a firm grip on Rumiko's arm.
"Oh, look." he grinned. "I caught up with you."
"Stop it!" said Rumiko. "Just leave us in peace!"
Justin pulled Rika's hand apart from her mother's and shoved her. Rika leaped up and dashed at him, biting his arm.
He let Rumiko go and grabbed the top of Rika's head. "I would like you to stop biting me, Rika." he said in a low voice.
"And I would like you to leave us alone!" she said, also in a low voice.
Justin glared. Rumiko ran over and pounded on his shoulders. He pushed her and she fell to the ground.
He turned back to Rika but she got out of his grasp and was dashing away. He ran after her. Rumiko stood up.
Rika picked up one of the rocks around the pond in her yard and held it up threateningly. "Get back or I throw. Leave or I throw." she said.
"Yeah right." he said. He stepped foward and Rika tossed the rock at him. It landed on his foot and he screamed in pain.
Rika leaned down to pick up another rock but Justin pushed her and she toppled over into the pond. The thin layer of ice easily broke and she fell into the water. (a/n: keep in mind, it was snowing before and there's snow on the ground. its also pretty darn cold)
"Rika!" shouted Rumiko. She ran over and jumped into the water and helped Rika to her feet. She was soaked to the bone. "You need to change or you'll freeze and get pneumonia!" she said, in a panic.
"If we go to change," she said, shivering. "then he'll get us. We just need to run."
Rumiko sighed, yet nodded. She pulled Rika out of the pond. "At least put on my sweater." she said, pulling it off. "And take off one of the shirts, or you'll definitely freeze."
Rika sighed and pulled off the long sleaved shirt. Quickly, she pulled on her mother's sweatshirt. "Thanks." she said.
Rumiko nodded a thanks.
"Oh, dear." said Justin. "Poor little Rika is wet! And cold." he grinned. "You should get inside, you know. You could get really sick."
"Like you care!" shouted Rika.
Justin started walking towards them, and they ran towards the gate.
"Where do we go after this?" asked Rika. Then she stopped short as Justin grabbed the back of her sweater.
"Rika!" shouted Rumiko.
"Now, Rika." said Justin. "Why don't we all go inside like a big happy family?"
"Problem is," said Rika. "We aren't a big happy family. Hell, we ain't even a family." she said. She pulled off the sleaves of the sweater and ran, Rumiko at her heels.
"Get back here!" shouted Justin running after them.
They slammed open the gate and ran out. Justin still behind them. He grabbed the back of Rika's shirt collar, but she pulled hard. It teared a little and he flew backwards. She was free and she ran.
"Rika!" said Rumiko. "We need to split up. He can follow us easier if we stick together." she explained.
"But-" said Rika.
"No buts!" said Rumiko. "I'll try to find your grandma. I know where I sent her, so I'll go look there. You go somewhere and hide!"
"But Faye is-" said Rika.
"Just go somewhere!" interupted her mother. "And keep running. I'll contact you. Somehow. If not, call my office. I'll be sure to go there tomarrow."
"What about him?" asked Rika. "And the police. Why don't we go there?"
Rumiko shook her head. "No." she said. She looked behind her. Justin was back on his feet and still after them. "Trust me. I'll find you or visa versa." she said.
They reached a corner, and Rumiko pushed her daughter down one way and she took off in the other. Rika went to go after her, but saw Justin nearing them. She sighed.
"I hope your right, mom." she whispered.
Rika turned and ran. She looked around at her surroundings. She knew this place. Faye's house wasn't too far away.
She kept running until she tripped over a crack in the sidewalk. She fell and tore her jeans. Jumping to her feet, she took off. She looked behind her to see who Justin had followed.
It wasn't her. He had followed her mom.
"I hope your okay, mom." she said.
"You shouldn't have slowed down."
She looked closer and saw him. Her eyes widened and she took off once again. She turned a corner and saw Faye's house.
"I hope they didn't leave yet." she said. She ran towards it and leaped over the fence/gate thing around her yard. She ran up to the door and pounded on it.
There was no response. She looked inside and saw no lights. They had left.
"Dammit." she whispered.
Meanwhile, Justin was slowly opening the gate, picking at the lock. Apparently, he thought to take his precious time. She walked over to the fence and glared at him.
"There's no escape Rika." he said, as he popped the lock. As soon as he opened the gate, she leaped back over it and took off.
She turned so many corners, and ran acorss many streets. She had no idea where she was going, yet she had a direction. She looked behind her and found she had finally lost Justin.
She still jogged a bit, not chancing to slow down to a walk. She looked around at her surroundings once again. Familiar...
She glanced at her watch. It was nearly eleven. Fifteen minutes till. She continued along the sidewalk, glancing behind her, making sure he wasn't there.
Then she started to cry. Hot tears rolled down her face. She was soaked to the bone. She had been slapped and punched and now had bruises everywhere. She had somehow lost two of her three layers and was down to a t-shirt. A t-shirt that was ripped at the collar and the sleave was slightly off her shoulder. Her pants were torn at the knee. Shoelaces untied. Her ponytail was falling down, it was still there, but pieces of hair were slowly falling out. She was a complete mess. And she felt like shit.
She shivered. She looked around, and then it clicked. She knew exactly where she was. She had been here a few hours ago.
Rika looked up at the sign above her head, the light out. It read: BAKERY. She swallowed. She didn't have a choice.
She stepped up and knocked on the door. She waited. There was no sound coming from inside.
"Maybe they can't hear it." she whispered. She stepped back up and looked. She spotted a doorbell and pushed it once. She stepped back down on the sidewalk.
Now she heard something. Someone was coming through the store, towards the door. She also heard someone say something like, "who can be coming here this late?"
Rika stood there, the tears still rolling down her face.
The door opened. "Hello?"
Rika's hands were clentched tightly.
"Rika?!?! Ohmigod!" he shouted.
Rika stood there. She didn't know what to do. She was so confused. "Takato.." she said. She walked a few steps foward.
Takato stood there with his hands out, looking shocked and confused. "Rika?"
She walked towards him and leaned into him, hands folded near her chin. She buried her face in his shirt. She closed her eyes. She felt him put his arms around her back. He hugged her tightly.
"Rika?" he whispered.
She made no reply. She just cried into his shirt. And he did nothing but stand there, with his arms wrapped her.
"Why don't you come inside.." he said. She nodded. Takato held the door open wide with his foot, his hands still around Rika's shoulders. He led her inside.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oh my dear god." said Mrs. Matsuki. "Takato?"
Mr. and Mrs. Makino nearly leaped out of their skins when Takato walked in with the bruised up Rika. He went over and sat her on the sofa, then sat next to her.
"Rika?" he asked.
She sniffed. She sat still, unsure as to what to do next.
"Dear," said Mrs. Makino. "Do you want me to get you some dry clothes? Your soaked.. " she said, full of concern.
"Rika?" asked Takato.
Rika nodded. "Sure." she said.
Mrs. Makino nodded too and disapeared somewhere to get her some clothes. Mr. Makino followed her, because he didn't have a clue what he should be doing to help.
"Rika?" asked Takato.
"Is it ok.. " she started.
"Is what ok?"
"Is it ok.. if I stay here?" she asked. "I can explain everything.. but can I stay here?" she asked. She looked up at him.
Takato nodded. "Yeah." he said. "Of course."
Rika sighed. "Thank you." she said. She looked at the floor. Then she shivered. She was still in wet clothes and she was quite cold.
Mrs. Matsuki came back in with a sweat shirt and flannels. "These are mine. They might be kinda big, but they'll be warm." she said.
"Thank you." said Rika. She took them. "Where can I change?" she asked.
"Do you want to take a bath first?" asked Takato's mother. "A hot bath?"
Rika bit her lip. "I don't wanna be a bother." she said.
"No bother." said Mrs. Matsuki. "I'll go run the bath now." she said and dashed off towards the bathroom.
Rika leaned back into the couch. She stared at the ceiling.
"Rika?" asked Takato.
She turned her head and looked at him. "Yeah..?" she asked.
"If you don't mind my asking.." he said, looking at the floor. "What happened to you?"
Rika sighed. What should she tell him?
"I mean," he said, still looking down, "You don't have to tell me. Its just.. you're in really bad shape. I wanna help."
Rika looked at him. There was only one thing to tell him. The truth. She sighed.
"My mother was young. She was really good looking and wanted a career in modeling, or acting. Or something." said Rika. This was the first time she had told anyone this story sinse she had told Faye. "Anyway. She was at this big party one day for the job she had gotton. It was a small modeling thing and the boss had this big party."
Takato was looking confused, as what did this have to do with how Rika had gotten beaten up?
"Thats where she met this guy. He was cute, friendly, and around her age. She found out his name was Justin. Justin Nonaka." she said.
"Is that... your father?" asked Takato.
Rika nodded. "Let me finish." she said. He nodded. "They really liked each other. She was sixteen, he was seventeen. After the party, they started dating. They had been going out for a year when my mom found out she was pregnant. With me." she said.
"So she was seventeen?" asked Takato.
Rika nodded. "Young." she said. "Anyway, she had me. She had the support of her mom, my grandma and Justin's parents, but my grandfather, her dad, didn't approve." she sighed again. "He got all mad, and got up and left. We've never heard from him again."
Takato nodded, not saying anything. And Rika continued her story.
"Well, my mom went through it all, and had me." she said. "She got back in shape, but didn't start to model again for a while, because she wanted to take care of me. Time went on, and when I was two, meaning my mom was nineteen and my dad was twenty one, they got married. It was all good." she said.
Takato blinked, still unsure of a good comment to make.
"She got back into modeling, but only part time. Justin got a job too and my grandma would babysit me. That was until she moved here, to the city. My mom quit her job and stayed home with me." she said. "They bought a nice house. It was great. Then something weird happened. I don't exactly remember it, because I was about four or five. But something happened to Justin. He came home one day, different."
Takato tilted his head, slightly confused.
"When ever he got angry," she said, her eyes beginning to tear up again. "He would slap my mom around. It got worse and worse as time went on. Then, he started to beat me too."
Takato's eyes widened. "You-"
"Stop." said Rika. "Let me finish. Please." she said.
Takato nodded. "I won't say anything else." he said.
Rika nodded too. "Every day, it was like a living hell. Then I started school. My teachers noticed and he came up with stupid excuses for the marks on my arms. He made us swear never to speak a word of it, or else." she said. She sighed again and looked up at the ceiling. "Time went on. Then when I was seven, my mom couldn't take it anymore. She packed up a bunch of bags and stuff and hid them in my closet. That night, she came in my room and woke me up. We left the house. Never to return again."
Takato looked at her, not sure if he should say anything.
"We went to my grandma's house. It was relatively small, but we managed. We lived in peace for a year or two. We lost Justin." she said. "But then.. he showed up one day, at our door, demanding we come home with him. I don't remember much about that day, because I block it out. I was around nine I think." she explained. "But the cops showed up, and he was thrown in jail. One of his buddies bailed him out though. He came back to our door, but escaped that time. My mom put a restraining order on him and divorced him."
Takato shifted in his chair.
"Once in a while, he'd show up again. Telling me to come with him, blah blah blah." said Rika. "My mom started to model again and became a pretty big hit. With enought money, we moved into the house I live in now." she said. "He never found us. Then I became friends with Faye, and she was there one day when he showed up again, trying to take me. We explained it all to her and her family. It brought us closer."
"So thats why there were somethings that only you and Faye seemed to understand." said Takato before he could stop himself.
Rika nodded. "Yup." she said. "He showed up again, a couple weeks ago. He slapped my face, but got away. Then he showed up at my old school. With a gun. He shot Faye. I switched and came to Shinjuku High. Then Faye came." she explained. She sighed. "It was good, and stuff. But then he found out Faye's number.. and then today.." she stopped. Her ears teared up again.
Takato put his hand on her shoulder. "You can stop if you want." he said softly. "You don't have to say anything."
Rika shook her head. "I started this story, and I'm gonna finish it." she said. "He showed up..today. I went home and found the gate open. I went in.. my mom was tied up.. and my grandma was missing. Then he came.. and .. and.." she choked. She was trying so hard not to cry. Here she was, sitting next to one of the most popular guys in school. Well, used to be. He was now... 'Thats right Rika.' she said to herself. 'He's not just some popular guy. He's your friend'
"Rika?"
Rika sighed. She grinned inside. "He just wanted us to apologize to him for leaving him, and for us to go with him." she said. "You can tell, from the way I look.. what happened..."
Takato looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to bring up all these memories you had." he said.
"Don't worry about it." said Rika. "I'm .. kinda glad you did. I needed to talk to someone about it. Someone besides Faye or my mom." she said. She looked up at him.
Takato grinned bit. "I'm sorry.. but I don't have a clue what to say." he said.
"That all right." she replied. She leaned back and looked at the ceiling once again. "So now you know." she said. She grinned. "Don't tell, anyone. Please."
Takato shook his head. "I won't." he said. "Wait.. where's your mom?"
"She ran off in the opposite direction." she replied. "She could be anywhere. I have to call her office.."
"What if she doesn't get there?" asked Takato.
"To be perfectly honest.. I don't have a clue." said Rika. "Faye's in Hong Kong.. er, going there. And she won't be back til Tuesday. In school, I mean."
Takato nodded. "I see." he said. He stood up. "Wait here."
"Well, where else am I gonna go?" asked Rika, a slight grin on her face.
"Hopefully, no where." he said, also with a slight grin and he disappeared down the hall way. Rika raised an eyebrow. She sat there, quietly for a minute or two when Mrs. Matsuki came back.
"Rika, the bath is done." she said. "And I insist. You must stay here for the night. Please." she said.
Rika stood up to head for the bath. "Mrs. Matsuki.." she started.
"No. I won't here it." she said. "We have a futon stored in the backroom. I'll set it up in the living room, in front of the fire place."
Rika grinned. "Thank you, Mrs. Matsuki." she said.
"Your welcome." she replied, with a smile.
"Takato?" said Rika, looking over at him.
"Yeah?"
"If you want.. tell your mom." said Rika. "She deserves to know. After all, I'm staying here in your house."
Takato nodded. "You sure?" he asked.
"Yeah." said Rika, heading for the bathroom, which Mrs. Matsuki was going to lead her too. "You're opening your house for me. You all deserve an explanation." she said. She grinned. Takato grinned back.
Then Rika turned and headed down the hall with Mrs. Matsuki.
"Here you go dear." said Mrs. Matsuki. "Its hot water. You're wet and all.."
"Thats great. Thank you." said Rika. She bowed a bit and went into the bathroom, closing the door gently behind her. She placed the dry clothes on the table near the sink and lookd at the bath. It was steaming from hot water. Rika shivered.
She stepped foward, and practically dove into water. Not bothering to strip down. She took a breath and went under. It felt great.
She surfaced and leaned against the back. The warm water was so soothing to her bruises and her cold body.
Rika stared up at the ceiling, again. She seemed to have developed a new habit in the past half hour or so.
She closed her eyes, and tears fell down her face again, uncontrollable. What a hell of a night.
MD: heh heh, how was that? to be perfectly honest with you, the next update will take a while. i dont have much of a clue whats gonna happen next, so expect a long update wait. gomen! (sorry) anyway... review! ^^
~*~*~*~*~ review replies ~*~*~*~*~
Black: hey its ok.. a review is a review, whenever it comes! ^^ and a review is a review whatever it says... lol
Selphie Leonhart: madness! @.@ thanks and hope ya liked this chapter too
Stars: heh heh.. it was a good cliffhanger, thought, neh? ^^ thanks
SerpentTreize: not good.. nope.. justin is BAD!! run away!! and well.. you saw what happened with takato.. i was planning that from the very start of this story! ^^
Archangemon: any more evil? hmm.... yes i can!! ^^
silence: you thought he was scary in ch. 12 and earlier.. he's HORRIFYING in this one! *shudders* and yes.. phil and stevo.. MY kind of guys too!
Neverwhere: yes.. it was one hell of an evil cliffhanger... *sigh* RUKATO!! YEAH
ejqhorselady: tee hee.. i often act like faye on a sugar high! its fun.. although sometimes i dont do it on purpose.. ^^'
thanks again.. and a lot of people seem to say that it was an evil cliffhanger... ^^
yes.. it was indeed an evil cliffhanger, was it not? *dodges the random objects thrown at her for the evil cliffhanger* forgive me, for I have updated now! *all cheer*
disclaimer: i own digimon. i don't own faye. oh wait.. i got that mixed up a bit...
chapter fourteen: a returning nightmare
Rika stared at the sillouette standing in the doorway. Her mother gagged and seated on the floor in the living room. Her grandmother who knows where. She could only think of one thing to say.
"Sorry bout this mom." she whispered. Then she turned and glared unseen daggers at him. "Bastard!!!" she screamed at him.
"Rika! Leave!" shouted Rumiko.
"Oh, Rika." said Justin. He main the 'tsk tsk' sound, as if he was disapointed. "Isn't it passed your curfew?"
"Get the hell out!!" screamed Rika, standing up in front of her mother.
"You aren't exactly in a position to tell me what to do, young lady." came his reply. Rika saw him take a step closer.
"Stop!!" she screamed at him. "Get AWAY!"
"I think Rika needs to be disiplined." said Justin.
Rika looked around. It was dark, as the lights were out, but the moon provided some light. She saw the broom laying on the floor. She ran over to it and grabbed it.
"RIKA!" shouted Rumiko.
Rika glared and ran at her father, swinging the broom wildly. She whacked it at his head furiously and he cursed out.
Rika ran back towards her mom and attempted to untie her hands.
"Rika!" she said. "Get out! Don't worry about me! LEAVE!"
"There is no way in hell I'm leaving you here with this psychopath." said Rika. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the knot.
Justin had taken another step foward and was taunting them. "My girls.."
Rika glanced up and saw him chuck the broom out the door. She looked back down at the knot and panicked. It wasn't working.
She looked around the room as Justin cracked his neck. She spotted a pair of scissors on the nearby table and snatched them. She sliced through the ropes as fast as she could and whirled around to face her dad.
"Why are you fricking stalking us?!?!" she shouted at him, pulling her mom to her feet. Rumiko clutched her daughter's arm.
"Stalking?" he asked, walking towards them. "I have no idea what you mean."
Rika looked around the room. The phone! She spotted it near by. If she could press any button, someone would here it and call for help.
"Don't even try to use the phone." said Justin. He was getting closer to them and they backed into the wall.
When he got enough to touch them, Rika spit into his face.
"Wench!!" he screamed. Then he slapped her across the face.
Rika turned and stared at him straight in the eye. "Leave now." she said.
"I told you." he said, grabbing her sleave and lifting her up a little bit. "Bad girls need to be punished."
She glared at him.
"Stop it!" screamed Rumiko. She ran over and started pounding him on the shoulders. "Leave her alone! Don't touch her!" she cried.
"Get lost. I'm not ready for you yet." he said and shoved her. She flew back into the couch. He looked back at Rika.
She glared at him and bit down on his arm.
"You bitch!" he shouted. He let go of her shirt and pushed her into the wall. Her eyes were full of fury. She pulled off her winter coat. It would be easier to move around with out it.
She charged foward and rammed into him.
"Rika!" shotued Rumiko.
Justin was surprised, but he was strong. He grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her in the air. She kicked her feet madly.
"Put me down!" she screamed. She hoped all these screams would attract someone to come and help. She swung her head around, trying to bite his hand.
"Stop Rika." he said in a low and ordering voice.
"Then let me go." she said, equally as demanding, as she snapped at his fingers.
He dropped her and she took off towards her mother. But he grabbed the back of her shirt. He had a firm grip and he wasn't letting go. She pushed foward as hard as she could.
"I won't let go, Rika." he said.
Rika grabbed her collar and tore it, causing it to rip. The shirt teared and she was able to free herself from his grasp. Layers do come in handy. (a/n: she is now wearing two shirts. one long sleaved, one tshirt under it. the tshirt on top was ripped. ^_-)
She dashed over to her mom and pulled her to her feet. She glanced back at her dad, who was charging at them.
She pulled her mother out of the way and he flew into the couch. Grabbing her mom's hand, Rika dashed towards the door. She stopped suddenly and whirled around.
Justin had grabbed her mother by the wrist and was not letting go.
"Rika! Let me go and get outta here!" shouted Rumiko.
"No way!" said Rika, grabbing her wrist with both hands. "There is no way I'm leaving you alone with this crazy jackass!" she shouted. She gave a final hard tug, and pulled Rumiko hard. They flew out the door and onto the deck.
Rika jumped and pulled her mom to her feet and they ran towards, well, they just ran. Justin's feet were pounding behind them.
Then Rumiko fell and knocked over Rika. They tumbled to the ground and Justin went over and stood in front of them.
"Tripping always works." her grinned.
Rika glared and went to stand up. Justin grabbed her hair by the ponytail and pulled her up. She grabbed her head and tried to pry his hands off her hair.
"Let GO!" she shouted.
Her hair was being pulled out of the ponytail, when his death grip vanished and her hair felt freedom. Her dad screamed. She looked down and figured out that her mother had kicked him in the shins.
Rika reached down and pulled Rumiko to her feet and shoved Justin so he lossed his balance and almost fell.
"Where's grandma?" asked Rika.
"I don't know!" said Rumiko. "I came home and couldn't find her! Then I was gagged by him." she explained.
"She's gotta be here." said Rika. "We have to find her. Now." she said. She turned and headed for the spare bedrooms.
They flung open each door and flipped on every light switch.
"Here Rika!" shouted Rumiko.
Rika dashed over and saw her grandmother bound and gagged on the bed. Rumiko was already over there, untying her. Rika slammed the door shut and pushed up a chair against it, making sure it would take a little bit more to open it.
"Grandma!" said Rika. She dashed over to her and began to untie the rope. Obviously not a good knot untier, she ran to the desk in the room and looked for scissors.
There was a pound on the door. "Open up, girls."
Rika ran over and cut through the rope on her grandma's hands. Then cut through the rope around her feet. Rumiko helped her mom sit up and pulled her off the bed.
"I heard the door open and then someone was pulling me out of the kitchen!" said Mrs. Makino. "I couldn't do anything! Then I was knocked out and I found myself here!"
"Its ok, mom." said Rumiko.
"We need to get out of here." said Rika, listening to the pounding on the door. She scrambled around the room, looking for something that could help.
"What about the blanket?" asked Rumiko, holding up the one on the bed. "We could open the door and throw it over him."
"Yes!" said Rika. She pulled it off the bed. "Mom. Open the door and me and grandma will throw it on him. Then we run somewhere." she said.
"Got it." said Rumiko. She went over towards the door.
"Open up. Now."
Rumiko looked over at them. "Ready?" she asked. They nodded. Rumiko pulled the door open and Justin came flying in. Rika and Mrs. Makino threw the blanket over his head and ran out. Rumiko slammed the door and they ran.
The door flew open and Justin was in pursuit. Rika heard a scream and turned to see her mom in the clutches of him.
She whirled around and charged at him. He had a firm grip on Rumiko's arm and he wasn't letting go.
"Let her go, you bastard!" screamed Rika, pounding on his shoulders.
Justin let go of her and grabbed Rika's arm just as tightly. Then he slapped her across the face again. Rika looked up and glared at him.
"You got something to say?" he asked. "Like apologizing for leaving me, all those years ago?" he grinned menacingly.
"Go to hell." came Rika's reply.
"I don't like you attitude missy." he said.
Meanwhile, Rumiko had run over and and slapped him across the face. "Leave her alone!" she screamed.
Justin turned slowly and faced the mother of his child. "I don't like your attitude too much either, bitch." he said. With his free hand, he slapped her than pushed her into the wall.
"Mom!" shouted Rika.
"Don't speak." said Justin, still with a death grip on her arm. He grabbed her other arm now too. "Look at me." he said.
Rika turned her head.
"Look at me!!" he shouted, letting go with one hand and slapping her yet again. He grabbed her face and pulled it so she was facing him.
Rika closed her eyes. She would not let this monster win.
"Open. Your. Eyes."
"Stop!" screamed Mrs. Makino. She came out of the kitchen, holding up a giant metal spoon. "Let her go now, or I'll hit you!"
Justin seemed amused. "Empty threat." he said and turned back towards Rika.
When he turned back to her she spit at him again. He loosend his grip and cursed. Rika pulled away and ran over to her mother. She helped her stand.
"You ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine!" said Rumiko. "Lets just go!" she said.
The three took off again but a little too late. Rika heard a squeal. She turned around.
"Grandma!" she shouted.
Justin pulled out a gun and was now pointing it towards Mrs. Makino's head. She looked terrified, and Justin was looking evil.
"Now. Stay there. Don't move." he said.
Rumiko and Rika stood in shock, not knowing what to do. Rika's mind raced. There had to be something she could do!
"I would greatly appriciate it if you girls of mine would now apologize to me for leaving me all those years ago." said Justin.
Rumiko bit her lip. Rika scowled. "Why would we apologize?" she said. "You gave us no fricken choice! Who wouldn't leave!" Rika shouted.
Justin narrowed his eyes and moved the gun closer to Mrs. Makino's head. She was freaking out and Justin was looking psychopathic.
"I.. I-" started Rumiko.
"Don't apologize to this bastard." said Rika, interupting her mother. "He doesn't deserve it." she said, glaring at him.
"Oh Rika." said Justin. He made the tsk tsk sound again. "I guess you want your precious grandmother to leave this world?"
"No." said Rika. "I wish you would leave this world."
Justin glared at her. "You're becoming little miss attitude Rika." he said. He lost some attention on Mrs. Makino, and it went towards Rika.
Then it clicked! If she could get all her father's attention on her, her mother could get her grandma outta there!
"What would you care?" asked Rika.
Rumiko was looking at her daughter with confusion. She looked between Justin, Rika and Mrs. Makino and then it clicked.
Justin shook his head. "Little girls shouldn't mouth off to their fathers."
"Two things wrong with that statement." said Rika. "One: I'm not a little girl." she said. She glared at him again. "Two: You are not my father. You are a monster. I have no father."
Justin was seething now. "Why you little-"
"Ah ah ah." grinned Rika. "If I can't bad mouth, then why should you be able to?"
Justin lost it and leaped at her, letting Mrs. Makino go free. Rumiko dashed over and hugged her mother, but then pushed her away so she wouldn't get caught in the middle again.
Justin pushed Rika up against the wall and punched her in the face. She responded by spitting in his eye. He cursed out loud and pushed her roughly.
She fell to the ground, and looked up. Her mother had gotten her grandma out of the way and was now searching for something to help. If Rika could keep Justin's attention on her, Rumiko could find something. Yeah. It would work.
Rika pulled herself to her feet and wiped the dirt off her face. She grinned. "I'm not so small anymore." she said. "And I've gotten into my fair share of fights. I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be." said Justin as he walked over to her. He pushed her to the ground again and before she could leap to her feet, he kicked her in the side. "Scared now?"
Rika sat up and jumped to her feet. "You wish." she said.
Justin scowled and grabbed her shirt collar. "Apologize."
She made now reply. She merely sent him death glares.
"Apologize!!!" he shouted.
"Never." she said.
Justin gave a little swing and sent Rika flying into the wall. He ran over and slapped her again. "Bitch. You disgust me."
"Yeah, well you disgust me too." replied Rika.
Then Rumiko came back and smacked him over the head with a glass. It shattered over his head and he whirled around.
"Back?" he asked, grabbing her wrists.
"Let go!" shouted Rika.
"Stay outta this." said Justin.
"Like hell I will!" shouted Rika, kicking him in the crotch.
He let go of Rumiko and screamed out. "BITCH!" he shouted, falling to his knees in pain. Rumiko grabbed Rika's hand and they ran away again.
"Where's grandma?" asked Rika.
"She's gone." said Rumiko. "I sent her to get help."
"Why didn't you go with her?" asked Rika.
"Like you said before," grinned Rumiko. "There's no way in hell I'm leaving you with this pyschopath." she said.
Rika grinned.
"But look at you!" said Rumiko. "You're all bruised!"
Rika patted her cheek. "I'm all right." she said. "Lets just get outta here."
Rumiko nodded.
"Get Back Here!!!" they heard Justin shout.
The two jumped over the side of the porch and landed on the ground. They dashed for the gate. Justin was gaining.
"Come on, mom!" shouted Rika, grabbing her mother's wrist and pulling here. "We're too close! We gotta MOVE." she said.
"I'm not an athlete, Rika!" replied Rumiko.
Rika stopped suddenly and flew back into her mother. She turned and saw Justin with a firm grip on Rumiko's arm.
"Oh, look." he grinned. "I caught up with you."
"Stop it!" said Rumiko. "Just leave us in peace!"
Justin pulled Rika's hand apart from her mother's and shoved her. Rika leaped up and dashed at him, biting his arm.
He let Rumiko go and grabbed the top of Rika's head. "I would like you to stop biting me, Rika." he said in a low voice.
"And I would like you to leave us alone!" she said, also in a low voice.
Justin glared. Rumiko ran over and pounded on his shoulders. He pushed her and she fell to the ground.
He turned back to Rika but she got out of his grasp and was dashing away. He ran after her. Rumiko stood up.
Rika picked up one of the rocks around the pond in her yard and held it up threateningly. "Get back or I throw. Leave or I throw." she said.
"Yeah right." he said. He stepped foward and Rika tossed the rock at him. It landed on his foot and he screamed in pain.
Rika leaned down to pick up another rock but Justin pushed her and she toppled over into the pond. The thin layer of ice easily broke and she fell into the water. (a/n: keep in mind, it was snowing before and there's snow on the ground. its also pretty darn cold)
"Rika!" shouted Rumiko. She ran over and jumped into the water and helped Rika to her feet. She was soaked to the bone. "You need to change or you'll freeze and get pneumonia!" she said, in a panic.
"If we go to change," she said, shivering. "then he'll get us. We just need to run."
Rumiko sighed, yet nodded. She pulled Rika out of the pond. "At least put on my sweater." she said, pulling it off. "And take off one of the shirts, or you'll definitely freeze."
Rika sighed and pulled off the long sleaved shirt. Quickly, she pulled on her mother's sweatshirt. "Thanks." she said.
Rumiko nodded a thanks.
"Oh, dear." said Justin. "Poor little Rika is wet! And cold." he grinned. "You should get inside, you know. You could get really sick."
"Like you care!" shouted Rika.
Justin started walking towards them, and they ran towards the gate.
"Where do we go after this?" asked Rika. Then she stopped short as Justin grabbed the back of her sweater.
"Rika!" shouted Rumiko.
"Now, Rika." said Justin. "Why don't we all go inside like a big happy family?"
"Problem is," said Rika. "We aren't a big happy family. Hell, we ain't even a family." she said. She pulled off the sleaves of the sweater and ran, Rumiko at her heels.
"Get back here!" shouted Justin running after them.
They slammed open the gate and ran out. Justin still behind them. He grabbed the back of Rika's shirt collar, but she pulled hard. It teared a little and he flew backwards. She was free and she ran.
"Rika!" said Rumiko. "We need to split up. He can follow us easier if we stick together." she explained.
"But-" said Rika.
"No buts!" said Rumiko. "I'll try to find your grandma. I know where I sent her, so I'll go look there. You go somewhere and hide!"
"But Faye is-" said Rika.
"Just go somewhere!" interupted her mother. "And keep running. I'll contact you. Somehow. If not, call my office. I'll be sure to go there tomarrow."
"What about him?" asked Rika. "And the police. Why don't we go there?"
Rumiko shook her head. "No." she said. She looked behind her. Justin was back on his feet and still after them. "Trust me. I'll find you or visa versa." she said.
They reached a corner, and Rumiko pushed her daughter down one way and she took off in the other. Rika went to go after her, but saw Justin nearing them. She sighed.
"I hope your right, mom." she whispered.
Rika turned and ran. She looked around at her surroundings. She knew this place. Faye's house wasn't too far away.
She kept running until she tripped over a crack in the sidewalk. She fell and tore her jeans. Jumping to her feet, she took off. She looked behind her to see who Justin had followed.
It wasn't her. He had followed her mom.
"I hope your okay, mom." she said.
"You shouldn't have slowed down."
She looked closer and saw him. Her eyes widened and she took off once again. She turned a corner and saw Faye's house.
"I hope they didn't leave yet." she said. She ran towards it and leaped over the fence/gate thing around her yard. She ran up to the door and pounded on it.
There was no response. She looked inside and saw no lights. They had left.
"Dammit." she whispered.
Meanwhile, Justin was slowly opening the gate, picking at the lock. Apparently, he thought to take his precious time. She walked over to the fence and glared at him.
"There's no escape Rika." he said, as he popped the lock. As soon as he opened the gate, she leaped back over it and took off.
She turned so many corners, and ran acorss many streets. She had no idea where she was going, yet she had a direction. She looked behind her and found she had finally lost Justin.
She still jogged a bit, not chancing to slow down to a walk. She looked around at her surroundings once again. Familiar...
She glanced at her watch. It was nearly eleven. Fifteen minutes till. She continued along the sidewalk, glancing behind her, making sure he wasn't there.
Then she started to cry. Hot tears rolled down her face. She was soaked to the bone. She had been slapped and punched and now had bruises everywhere. She had somehow lost two of her three layers and was down to a t-shirt. A t-shirt that was ripped at the collar and the sleave was slightly off her shoulder. Her pants were torn at the knee. Shoelaces untied. Her ponytail was falling down, it was still there, but pieces of hair were slowly falling out. She was a complete mess. And she felt like shit.
She shivered. She looked around, and then it clicked. She knew exactly where she was. She had been here a few hours ago.
Rika looked up at the sign above her head, the light out. It read: BAKERY. She swallowed. She didn't have a choice.
She stepped up and knocked on the door. She waited. There was no sound coming from inside.
"Maybe they can't hear it." she whispered. She stepped back up and looked. She spotted a doorbell and pushed it once. She stepped back down on the sidewalk.
Now she heard something. Someone was coming through the store, towards the door. She also heard someone say something like, "who can be coming here this late?"
Rika stood there, the tears still rolling down her face.
The door opened. "Hello?"
Rika's hands were clentched tightly.
"Rika?!?! Ohmigod!" he shouted.
Rika stood there. She didn't know what to do. She was so confused. "Takato.." she said. She walked a few steps foward.
Takato stood there with his hands out, looking shocked and confused. "Rika?"
She walked towards him and leaned into him, hands folded near her chin. She buried her face in his shirt. She closed her eyes. She felt him put his arms around her back. He hugged her tightly.
"Rika?" he whispered.
She made no reply. She just cried into his shirt. And he did nothing but stand there, with his arms wrapped her.
"Why don't you come inside.." he said. She nodded. Takato held the door open wide with his foot, his hands still around Rika's shoulders. He led her inside.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oh my dear god." said Mrs. Matsuki. "Takato?"
Mr. and Mrs. Makino nearly leaped out of their skins when Takato walked in with the bruised up Rika. He went over and sat her on the sofa, then sat next to her.
"Rika?" he asked.
She sniffed. She sat still, unsure as to what to do next.
"Dear," said Mrs. Makino. "Do you want me to get you some dry clothes? Your soaked.. " she said, full of concern.
"Rika?" asked Takato.
Rika nodded. "Sure." she said.
Mrs. Makino nodded too and disapeared somewhere to get her some clothes. Mr. Makino followed her, because he didn't have a clue what he should be doing to help.
"Rika?" asked Takato.
"Is it ok.. " she started.
"Is what ok?"
"Is it ok.. if I stay here?" she asked. "I can explain everything.. but can I stay here?" she asked. She looked up at him.
Takato nodded. "Yeah." he said. "Of course."
Rika sighed. "Thank you." she said. She looked at the floor. Then she shivered. She was still in wet clothes and she was quite cold.
Mrs. Matsuki came back in with a sweat shirt and flannels. "These are mine. They might be kinda big, but they'll be warm." she said.
"Thank you." said Rika. She took them. "Where can I change?" she asked.
"Do you want to take a bath first?" asked Takato's mother. "A hot bath?"
Rika bit her lip. "I don't wanna be a bother." she said.
"No bother." said Mrs. Matsuki. "I'll go run the bath now." she said and dashed off towards the bathroom.
Rika leaned back into the couch. She stared at the ceiling.
"Rika?" asked Takato.
She turned her head and looked at him. "Yeah..?" she asked.
"If you don't mind my asking.." he said, looking at the floor. "What happened to you?"
Rika sighed. What should she tell him?
"I mean," he said, still looking down, "You don't have to tell me. Its just.. you're in really bad shape. I wanna help."
Rika looked at him. There was only one thing to tell him. The truth. She sighed.
"My mother was young. She was really good looking and wanted a career in modeling, or acting. Or something." said Rika. This was the first time she had told anyone this story sinse she had told Faye. "Anyway. She was at this big party one day for the job she had gotton. It was a small modeling thing and the boss had this big party."
Takato was looking confused, as what did this have to do with how Rika had gotten beaten up?
"Thats where she met this guy. He was cute, friendly, and around her age. She found out his name was Justin. Justin Nonaka." she said.
"Is that... your father?" asked Takato.
Rika nodded. "Let me finish." she said. He nodded. "They really liked each other. She was sixteen, he was seventeen. After the party, they started dating. They had been going out for a year when my mom found out she was pregnant. With me." she said.
"So she was seventeen?" asked Takato.
Rika nodded. "Young." she said. "Anyway, she had me. She had the support of her mom, my grandma and Justin's parents, but my grandfather, her dad, didn't approve." she sighed again. "He got all mad, and got up and left. We've never heard from him again."
Takato nodded, not saying anything. And Rika continued her story.
"Well, my mom went through it all, and had me." she said. "She got back in shape, but didn't start to model again for a while, because she wanted to take care of me. Time went on, and when I was two, meaning my mom was nineteen and my dad was twenty one, they got married. It was all good." she said.
Takato blinked, still unsure of a good comment to make.
"She got back into modeling, but only part time. Justin got a job too and my grandma would babysit me. That was until she moved here, to the city. My mom quit her job and stayed home with me." she said. "They bought a nice house. It was great. Then something weird happened. I don't exactly remember it, because I was about four or five. But something happened to Justin. He came home one day, different."
Takato tilted his head, slightly confused.
"When ever he got angry," she said, her eyes beginning to tear up again. "He would slap my mom around. It got worse and worse as time went on. Then, he started to beat me too."
Takato's eyes widened. "You-"
"Stop." said Rika. "Let me finish. Please." she said.
Takato nodded. "I won't say anything else." he said.
Rika nodded too. "Every day, it was like a living hell. Then I started school. My teachers noticed and he came up with stupid excuses for the marks on my arms. He made us swear never to speak a word of it, or else." she said. She sighed again and looked up at the ceiling. "Time went on. Then when I was seven, my mom couldn't take it anymore. She packed up a bunch of bags and stuff and hid them in my closet. That night, she came in my room and woke me up. We left the house. Never to return again."
Takato looked at her, not sure if he should say anything.
"We went to my grandma's house. It was relatively small, but we managed. We lived in peace for a year or two. We lost Justin." she said. "But then.. he showed up one day, at our door, demanding we come home with him. I don't remember much about that day, because I block it out. I was around nine I think." she explained. "But the cops showed up, and he was thrown in jail. One of his buddies bailed him out though. He came back to our door, but escaped that time. My mom put a restraining order on him and divorced him."
Takato shifted in his chair.
"Once in a while, he'd show up again. Telling me to come with him, blah blah blah." said Rika. "My mom started to model again and became a pretty big hit. With enought money, we moved into the house I live in now." she said. "He never found us. Then I became friends with Faye, and she was there one day when he showed up again, trying to take me. We explained it all to her and her family. It brought us closer."
"So thats why there were somethings that only you and Faye seemed to understand." said Takato before he could stop himself.
Rika nodded. "Yup." she said. "He showed up again, a couple weeks ago. He slapped my face, but got away. Then he showed up at my old school. With a gun. He shot Faye. I switched and came to Shinjuku High. Then Faye came." she explained. She sighed. "It was good, and stuff. But then he found out Faye's number.. and then today.." she stopped. Her ears teared up again.
Takato put his hand on her shoulder. "You can stop if you want." he said softly. "You don't have to say anything."
Rika shook her head. "I started this story, and I'm gonna finish it." she said. "He showed up..today. I went home and found the gate open. I went in.. my mom was tied up.. and my grandma was missing. Then he came.. and .. and.." she choked. She was trying so hard not to cry. Here she was, sitting next to one of the most popular guys in school. Well, used to be. He was now... 'Thats right Rika.' she said to herself. 'He's not just some popular guy. He's your friend'
"Rika?"
Rika sighed. She grinned inside. "He just wanted us to apologize to him for leaving him, and for us to go with him." she said. "You can tell, from the way I look.. what happened..."
Takato looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to bring up all these memories you had." he said.
"Don't worry about it." said Rika. "I'm .. kinda glad you did. I needed to talk to someone about it. Someone besides Faye or my mom." she said. She looked up at him.
Takato grinned bit. "I'm sorry.. but I don't have a clue what to say." he said.
"That all right." she replied. She leaned back and looked at the ceiling once again. "So now you know." she said. She grinned. "Don't tell, anyone. Please."
Takato shook his head. "I won't." he said. "Wait.. where's your mom?"
"She ran off in the opposite direction." she replied. "She could be anywhere. I have to call her office.."
"What if she doesn't get there?" asked Takato.
"To be perfectly honest.. I don't have a clue." said Rika. "Faye's in Hong Kong.. er, going there. And she won't be back til Tuesday. In school, I mean."
Takato nodded. "I see." he said. He stood up. "Wait here."
"Well, where else am I gonna go?" asked Rika, a slight grin on her face.
"Hopefully, no where." he said, also with a slight grin and he disappeared down the hall way. Rika raised an eyebrow. She sat there, quietly for a minute or two when Mrs. Matsuki came back.
"Rika, the bath is done." she said. "And I insist. You must stay here for the night. Please." she said.
Rika stood up to head for the bath. "Mrs. Matsuki.." she started.
"No. I won't here it." she said. "We have a futon stored in the backroom. I'll set it up in the living room, in front of the fire place."
Rika grinned. "Thank you, Mrs. Matsuki." she said.
"Your welcome." she replied, with a smile.
"Takato?" said Rika, looking over at him.
"Yeah?"
"If you want.. tell your mom." said Rika. "She deserves to know. After all, I'm staying here in your house."
Takato nodded. "You sure?" he asked.
"Yeah." said Rika, heading for the bathroom, which Mrs. Matsuki was going to lead her too. "You're opening your house for me. You all deserve an explanation." she said. She grinned. Takato grinned back.
Then Rika turned and headed down the hall with Mrs. Matsuki.
"Here you go dear." said Mrs. Matsuki. "Its hot water. You're wet and all.."
"Thats great. Thank you." said Rika. She bowed a bit and went into the bathroom, closing the door gently behind her. She placed the dry clothes on the table near the sink and lookd at the bath. It was steaming from hot water. Rika shivered.
She stepped foward, and practically dove into water. Not bothering to strip down. She took a breath and went under. It felt great.
She surfaced and leaned against the back. The warm water was so soothing to her bruises and her cold body.
Rika stared up at the ceiling, again. She seemed to have developed a new habit in the past half hour or so.
She closed her eyes, and tears fell down her face again, uncontrollable. What a hell of a night.
MD: heh heh, how was that? to be perfectly honest with you, the next update will take a while. i dont have much of a clue whats gonna happen next, so expect a long update wait. gomen! (sorry) anyway... review! ^^
~*~*~*~*~ review replies ~*~*~*~*~
Black: hey its ok.. a review is a review, whenever it comes! ^^ and a review is a review whatever it says... lol
Selphie Leonhart: madness! @.@ thanks and hope ya liked this chapter too
Stars: heh heh.. it was a good cliffhanger, thought, neh? ^^ thanks
SerpentTreize: not good.. nope.. justin is BAD!! run away!! and well.. you saw what happened with takato.. i was planning that from the very start of this story! ^^
Archangemon: any more evil? hmm.... yes i can!! ^^
silence: you thought he was scary in ch. 12 and earlier.. he's HORRIFYING in this one! *shudders* and yes.. phil and stevo.. MY kind of guys too!
Neverwhere: yes.. it was one hell of an evil cliffhanger... *sigh* RUKATO!! YEAH
ejqhorselady: tee hee.. i often act like faye on a sugar high! its fun.. although sometimes i dont do it on purpose.. ^^'
thanks again.. and a lot of people seem to say that it was an evil cliffhanger... ^^